Mask



July 3, 1962 G. COANDA 3,042,035

MASK

Filed Dec. 9, 1958 9 INVENTOR.

GEORGE COA/YDA BY f4; KWFM United States Patent 9 3,042,035 MASK George Coanda, North Hollywood, Calif., assignor to Don Baxter, Inc., Glendale, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Filed Dec. 9, 1958, Ser. No. 779,202 8 Claims. (Cl. 128-146) This invention relates to an inexpensive plastic mask of'the type used for administering oxygen or other gases to a patient.

An important problem in the design of a mask is to provide a convenient, inexpensive attachment of the gas supply tube to the mask. The attachment is particularly difficult when it is desired to make the mask of polyethylene plastic and the supply tube of a different plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride. Since the properties of these plastics are substantially different, it is very difficult to attach them together properly.

Another important problem in the design of a mask is to sufficiently diffuse the gas as it enters the mask from the supply tube. The stinging sensation and the dryness, discomfort, and inflammation of mucous membranes which often occur with administration of oxygen through a mask, are usually due to insuflicient diffusion.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a mask having a gas supply tube attached by a convenient, inexpensive structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mask in which the incoming gas is thoroughly diffused within the mask.

A further object of the invention is to provide a single mask which can be used for both continuous flow therapy and, with a demand valve, for intermittent flow therapy.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the plastic mask chamber;

FIGURE 3 is a view directly into the outer cup 25 of the gas supply tube connector 14;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on the line 4- 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the baifle unit 26' as viewed from within the mask of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a front view of the baflle unit of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of FIGURE 2.

As shown in the drawings, the mask has a chamber 10, a head band 11, and an exhaust opening 12. The gas supply tube 13 is attached to the chamber by a connector 14. The chamber 10 has an apex 15, a curved bridge 16, and a flange 19. The bridge section 17 of the chamber 10 lies between the apex and the bridge 16. The lower face 18 of the chamber 10 lies between the apex 15 and the bottom 18a of the mask. This lower face 18 meets the lower end of the flange 19 at an angle of about 45 and is adapted to fit over the chin of the patient so that the bottom 18a of the mask contacts the patient beneath the point of the chin. In this way, the mask fits a wide variety of patients, allows the patient to open his month if desired, and allows the lower lip to be seen by the attendant. A curved area 20 (FIGURE 8) lies between the flange 19 and the Wall of the chamber 10. The flange 19 is preferably the thinnest and most flexible part of the mask and should extend directly outward to form a flat facial contact area 20a. Flange 19 curves outwardly about 3 /2" below the bridge 17 to form a convex bulged area 19a. This 3,042,035 Patented July 3, 1962 bulged area, combined with the flexibility of the wall just above the flange 19 permits the mask to be worn by people with and without dentures.

The chamber 10 is preferably made by vacuum forming from a sheet of low density polyethylene, polypropylene, or an odorless formulation of polyvinyl chloride. The sheet should preferably be about 0.040 inch thick and the sides and edges of the mask are drawn down to about 0.020 inch thick during the vacuum forming. These materials are easy to Work with, inexpensive, odorless, relatively transparent, crack resistant, and have the proper combination of rigidity and flexibility. Cellulose acetate, high density polyethylene, or cellulose butyrate may also be used. When materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene are used, the inside surface of the chamber 10 should have a roughened or matte surface. Such a surface may be obtained by forming the chamber 10 of a material which has a rough or matte surface, such as a calendered sheet. If it is desired to use an extruded plastic sheet, or other material having a smooth polished surface, a suitable roughened or matte surface may be obtained by using a form hav' Such a form is easilying a roughened or matte surface. made by sandblasting the surface of a polished form such as is normally used.

The band 11 which holds the mask on the patients face is attached near the apex 15 by an eyelet 21. This band is preferably made of elasticized nylon or similar fabric 4-7 mm. wide The connector 14 is attached to the lower face 18 of the mask, preferably close to the apex 15. The connector 14 consists of an outer cup 25 and an inner collar 26. The cup 25 (FIGURES 34) has a tapered inner surface 27 and an outer flange 28. An inlet tube 29 leads into the cup 25 near the bottom, preferably at right angles to the axis of the cup. The tube 29 has a tapered inner surface 30 and a stop 31.

The collar 26 (FIGURES 57) has a generally cylindrical flange 32 and an annular rim 133. The outer surface of the flange 32 is tapered so as to wedge into the cup 25 against the tapered surface 27. The collar 26 preferably has a baffle plate 34, baffle plate supports 35, and slot-shaped gas ports 36. The supports 35 are wider than the inlet tube 29 and, when assembled, are approximately in line therewith.

The cup 25 and the collar 26 are preferably molded of rigid polyvinyl chloride or other cementablc, plastic material. The connector 14 is attached to the mask by placing cement or solvent on the outer surface of the flange 32, placing the baflie unit inside the chamber 10 with the flange 32 projecting outwardly through the inlet 37, and wcdging the flange 32 tightly into the tapered section 27 of the cup. In this manner an annular portion 38 of the chamber wall lies between the cup flange 28 and the baflie unit rim 33 and fits tightly around the flange 32. Thus the connector is firmly attached to the mask, but may be turned to allow the supply tube 13 to extend in any desired direction.

If desired, the exhaust opening 12 may be covered by a piece of flexible plastic or rubber sheet material 40 which is attached above the opening by a single, centrally-located eyelet or rivet 41. The flapper valve thus formed by the piece of sheet material 40 can be pivoted about the eyelet 41 so as to cover the opening 12 when the mask is to be used with a demand valve for intermittent gas administration. When the mask is used without a demand valve for continuous gas administration, the valve 40 is pivoted around the eyelet 41 to a position at one side of the opening 12.

I claim:

1. A gas administration mask comprising: a plastic chamber adapted to fit over a patients nose and mouth; a

flexible, flat outwardly extending flange around the edge of said chamber; a uniform curved area integrally connecting said flange to said chamber; an outlet on said chamber; a piece of thin, flexible sheet material forming a flapper valve over said outlet; and a single eyelet rotatably attaching one end of said valve to the outside of the chamber.

2. A gas administration mask comprising: a chamber; a gas supply tube; a connector attaching said tube to the chamber, and having a cup-shaped outer member and an inner collar member; a portion of said collar member telescoped into a portion of the cup-shaped member and attached therein; a first annular flange on the cup-shaped member and a second annular flange on the collar member; and a portion of the chamber wall between said flanges.

3. A gas administration mask according to claim 2, in which the connector member is rotatable with relation to the chamber and the portion of the chamber wall between the flanges fits tightly around the inner collar member.

4. A gas administration mask according to claim 2 in which a gas supply tube extends from the outer cup at right angles to the axis thereof.

5. A gas administration device according to claim 2, in which support members project from said second flange into the chamber; a baflle plate is mounted on said support members; and slot-like ports open from the collar member into the chamber between the support members.

6. A gas administration mask comprising: a chamber adapted to fit over the nose of a patient, said chamber having a thin plastic wall formed of a normally translucent material, a centrally located apex, and an open side opposite said apex; a flange on the chamber surrounding said open side and shaped to rest against the face of a patient; a bridge section of the flange adapted to receive and to fit around the bridge of a patients nose; a connector attached to the chamber Wall; a passage through said connector; a gas supply tube attached to the connector and communicating with said passage; an inner surface on the chamber Wall; and a rough, matte finish on at least a major portion of said surface surrounding the apex, said matte finish rendering the normally translucent chamber Wall substantially transparent.

7. A gas administration mask according to claim 6, in which the plastic chamber is made of a material selected from a class consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene and is substantially 0.020 to 0.040 inch thick.

8. A gas administration mask comprising: a chamber adapted to fit over the nose of a patient, said chamber including a thin plastic Wall, a front face having a centrally located apex, and an open side opposite said apex; a flange on the chamber surrounding said open side and shaped to rest against the face of a patient; a bridge section of the flange adapted to receive and to fit around the bridge of a patients nose; arigid connector passing through a portion of the front face of the chamber Wall, permanently attached in rotatable relation to said wall, and including a tubular body having an axial passage; a rigid inlet tube attached to the connector, projecting at right angles to the axis thereof, and having an axial bore communicating with the connector passage; and a flexible gas supply tube attached to and extending axially from said inlet tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,288,840 Raiche July 7, 1942 2,438,058 Kincheloe Mar. 16, 1948 2,738,788 Matheson et al Mar. 20, 1956 2,848,994 Aguado Aug. 26, 1958 2,859,748 Hudson Nov. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 78,842 Netherlands Aug. 15, 1955 1,100,411 France Apr. 6, 1955 

